HRC Blog

First Military-Wide Pride Observance

June is LGBT pride month. Pride events are held nationwide throughout the month, and give the LGBT community and their allies an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made, but also to recognize the distance that still remains to achieve full equality. This June marks the first military pride month.

The Department of Defense made history by recognizing LGBT Pride Month for the first time in 2012, but this year the goal of military pride month is to expand from just celebrating the contributions that the LGBT community bring to the armed forces to focusing on respect and awareness between all members of the military.

HRC worked hard to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Since repeal in 2011, lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members have been able to serve openly and honestly without fear of living losing their career because of who they love. And just this month, Secretary Hagel Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, in response to a question about military health regulations which effectively bar military service by transgender persons, said he believes that those regulations should be reviewed. HRC is committed to working to ensure that transgender individuals have the opportunity to serve their country.

Pride month observances for the military are scheduled throughout June. Military pride month 2014 is a service coordinated event. More resources for planning your own event for military pride month are available here.